Hillsborough
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Why it's listed
Hillsborough is a mid-eighteenth century mansion in King and Queen County, Virginia, set on cleared farmland running north from the Mattaponi River. The two-story house has a hipped roof. Its end walls and foundations are brick laid in Flemish bond, while the two main five-bay facades are clapboarded frame. Wooden details include a modillioned cornice and wide window and door framings, and the center hall holds a fine stair. The land was patented by Edward Digges in 1653 and passed through the Arnold and Baylor families. By 1752 Colonel Humphrey Hill owned it, renamed it Hillsborough, and ran a plantation and a mercantile business there. His son Edward Hill inherited it and insured the buildings several times, leaving detailed descriptions. Federal troops plundered the plantation in 1864, but no buildings burned. A surviving brick storehouse uses small brick that a noted researcher believed was imported, possibly Dutch. Today the house anchors a large farm and orchard operation.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a fine mid-eighteenth century mansion. Its symmetrical facades, hipped roof and informal rural character come from the mix of brick ends and clapboarded frame fronts. The surviving early brick storehouse, whose small imported-looking brick Herbert Claiborne found unlike any other in Virginia, adds to its importance. The property also has a documented plantation history tied to Colonel Humphrey Hill and his son Edward.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000984, listed September 22, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. SE of Walkerton off SR 633, Walkerton |
|---|---|
| County | King and Queen County |
| Listed | September 22, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000984 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, unaltered and on its original site. It is occupied as a private residence and the center of a farming and orchard operation. |
| Acreage | 250 |
| Coordinates | 37.71409, -76.98281 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000984.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712537
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.